The BlackBerry Experience Forum Touches Down in the United Kingdom

Momentum for BlackBerry 10 and BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 continues to build as the BlackBerry Experience Forum (BEF) adds more stops to its international tour. Connecting with well-known Fortune 500 customers, IT decision-makers, and developers has made this whirlwind experience undeniably worthwhile. The BlackBerry 10 platform has received note-worthy acclaim in many international markets. These BEF events provide attendees with valuable hands-on time not only with the BlackBerry Z10 and BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10, but also 1:1 time with the BlackBerry executive team. Rob Orr, BlackBerry Managing Director for the UK, kicked off the day’s activities with an engaging keynote session which invited BlackBerry customers on stage to demonstrate how they use BlackBerry technology to power mobile innovation. Customers on stage commented that the BlackBerry solution has been not only fun to use but also efficient, scalable, and beneficial for their global workforce.

Many attendees came away with a newfound appreciation for the powerful BlackBerry 10 platform, especially the BlackBerry Balance functionality that many enterprise customers have already been taking advantage of in the UK market. “We’ve come to the event today to learn more about BlackBerry 10 and find more information about how the developments have been taking off,” said Drew Evans from Aneurin Bevan Health Board. The Health Board employs over 13,000 staff, two thirds of whom are involved in direct patient care (nurses, midwives, allied professionals, and community workers). The fully booked event featured customer presentations from large organizations, and keynote participation from public sector BlackBerry customer Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust (BSMHFT), which announced a deployment of 1,800 BlackBerry Z10 smartphones across their organization.

According to Gavin Clements from MBDA, a world leader in missiles and missile systems, with 10,000 employees at industrial facilities in France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, Spain, and the United States, “BlackBerry is the only CESG approved device for email traffic – there is only one email solution.” This CESG approval allows government employees access to classified data up to and including “Restricted.”

Enterprise customers participated in breakout sessions focused on educating IT decision-makers on how the BlackBerry 10 platform and BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 can easily deploy, manage, secure, and control BYOD and corporate devices to empower employees. More than 100 UK public and private sector organizations are currently trialing BlackBerry 10. Organizations include BT, Centrica, Aviva, The Co-Operative Group and University Hospital Birmingham. Jon Mooney from Aviva added, “No other device can really give us the kind of integrity and management of a handset that BlackBerry Enterprise Service can already offer us.” Aviva provides over 43 million customers with insurance, savings, and investment products, and is one of Europe’s leading providers of life and general insurance.

Vivek Bhardwaj, Head of the BlackBerry Software Portfolio and often recognized for his expert BlackBerry 10 hands-on demo’s was also in attendance to show his support for BlackBerry enterprise customers. Vivek remarked that, “it’s great to be here today and see so many enterprise people so focused on BlackBerry 10.”

The energy continues as the BlackBerry Experience Forum continues its world-tour to Dubai, Sydney, Paris, Frankfurt, Johannesburg, and New Delhi. To learn more, visit www.blackberryexperienceforum.com.

About Steph F.

Steph has been with Research In Motion since January 2009, most recently as a Communications Advisor on the Corporate PR team. With experience within the RIM Customer Support Operations organization, the Office of the CIO and the Enterprise and Government Public Relations team, Steph enjoys being a part of all things BlackBerry.
Steph engages daily with the BlackBerry For Business community, which gives her an opportunity to connect with enterprise business leaders online. An ink-slinger of the fussiest sort, Steph has experience supporting senior executives (personal correspondence, keynote appearances and media interviews) and event management (press conferences, product launches and trade shows).
Outside the office, Steph is a self-proclaimed oenophile, globe trotter and foodie-in-training. She also loves westies and accountants.

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